Author: Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY

Hunter Henry didn’t play at all this season after tearing his ACL in May, but he could be back in action for the Chargers against the Patriots.

Antonio Brown hasn’t formally requested a trade, Mike Tomlin said, but the Steelers receiver’s actions last week did not sit well with the coach.

With the NFL playoffs set to kick off this weekend, these are the players and facets that will shape the outcome of the wild-card games.

Houston and Indianapolis split their regular-season series, leaving plenty of mystery for the third showdown in the wild-card round.

The Ravens are hoping to recapture the winning formula of their late-season victory over Los Angeles, while the Chargers are looking for a change.

These 10 players, coaches or factors will figure into the playoff berths and conference seedings that can be clinched in NFL Week 17.

Lamar Jackson has led a late-season surge in Baltimore, where the Ravens have won five of six with the rookie under center.

While the Patriots are in position to earn their familiar first-round playoff bye, the Steelers are in danger of missing the playoffs.

A hit from safety Marcell Harris set off a brawl between the Bears and 49ers, and Richard Sherman inserted himself into the middle of the fray.